SPINOFF POLL: how far is TOO far?

[ramonaquimby]

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spinoff: how miserable do you guys think it would be to live 40 min away from residency? my FAVE program, which has conveniently been recruiting me heavily for next year, is 40 min away. we own a home already, and no real money to move right now. he would even rather me rent a small place out there than move. what do you guys think?

 

[fuzzyerin]

What program are we talking? Internal medicine or surgery? Cause for IM, it might not be bad if you don't have to be in until 6ish or later, but it may suck if you need to be in at 5 or earlier.

 

[GeneGoddess]

My aunt had to drive an hour through heavy traffic both ways (DC area). This was, of course, before the 80hr week. She fell asleep at the wheel once, but didn't crash. I refuse to live more than 20min away (5 right now).

 

[docB]

During my EM residency I lived about 20 min away without traffic and 40 min with traffic. From 0500 to 1000 and 1600 to 1900 there was traffic. It wasn't so bad. Granted I never did much home call (gotta love EM). Some things you can do are rent a place as you said, cultivate some friendships with people in the program who live nearby so you can crash when you need to and you can ask your PD, chief or the housestaff office if they have any extra call rooms that you can check out on an as needed basis. If you decide to do the commute thing make sure you have a reliable car. If your's isn't take the plunge and buy a relatively new, small, fuel efficient, reliable car to use as a work car. Make sure you have a cell phone and if you think you might fall asleep at the wheel call home and have someone talk you in. GL.

 

[GenSurg]

I am in a general surgery residency and have an am commute of approximately 20-25 minutes door to door. My evening commute averages 40 to 60 minutes. Living 40 minutes away can be manageable, if you're at the right program. A program that is heavy with home-call would be difficult. You can also get around the heavy traffic times if you don't have to be home by certain times. By staying late after work and working out or reading, you can skip the pm traffic.

http://www.freeiPods.com/?r=20049323

 

[cytoborg]

Hmm, well, I live about an hour away from the hospital, and it does eat up precious sleep time in the a.m. I've lived 5, 15, and 30 min away in the past, and 5 is definitely the best! But now that I know what 60 min is like, it makes 30 look like cake. So I think 40, while not ideal, is doable.

 

[ramonaquimby]

What program are we talking? Internal medicine or surgery? Cause for IM, it might not be bad if you don't have to be in until 6ish or later, but it may suck if you need to be in at 5 or earlier.

since you asked, not surgery (thank goodness!)

 

[tlew12778]

We live 40 min from my fiance's hospital. He's a first year surgery resident. He HATES it. He especially hates it when he's just walked in the door and suddenly he gets a call that there is emergency surgery to be done and he's got to head back out. It's not really the daily commute (according to him), it's the emergencies and home call that suck.

 

[Smurfette]

I would wait until after the match to worry about this....a lot can happen in the next 9 months, and you may not even like this program anymore after you interview at other places.

 

[debvz]

When looking for a house a few months ago, i refused to look outside of a 5 mile radius from the hospital.... Time is too precious to waste driving, especially if you're doing a GS residency.

 

[ramonaquimby]

program is still looking mighty attractive except for the drive...just bumping this to see fi there are any other opinions on this [silly?] matter...

 

[BKN]

program is still looking mighty attractive except for the drive...just bumping this to see fi there are any other opinions on this [silly?] matter...

If you live 40 minutes away, and there is signifnicant night call, be preapred to sleep at the hospital after call for several hours on a regular basis. Driving that distance sleep-deprived is dangerous. Most of us have had near-misses. Live across the street from the hospital if at all possible.

 

[GiJoe]

40 min is nothing. dont make me laugh.

 

[rugtrousers]

For some programs, when you take home call you have to be within 20-30 minutes of the hospital. So either you lie, move, or stay in-house during what is supposed to be home call. You should find out your desired program's policy.

 

[Blade28]

We live 40 min from my fiance's hospital. He's a first year surgery resident. He HATES it. He especially hates it when he's just walked in the door and suddenly he gets a call that there is emergency surgery to be done and he's got to head back out. It's not really the daily commute (according to him), it's the emergencies and home call that suck.

Hey, at least he gets home call...VERY rare for a surgery intern!

 

[ramonaquimby]

 

[14022]

I interviewed at a program in Philaelphia where one resident commutes each day back and forth from Washington DC. A two hour commute each way!!!

There is another couple that live sin Trenton, New Jersey. The wife commutes one hour to Phili and the husband one hour to New York City.

Personally, I think this is absolutely crazy, but people do it.

 

[Blade28]

I'd try to live within 30 minutes (with traffic). Otherwise home call would be incredibly painful.